MANU/TRAI/0049/2016

Department/Board : Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

Press Release No. : 45/2016

Date : 14.06.2016

TRAI issues Consultation Paper on "Review of Voice Mail/Audiotex/Unified Messaging Services Licence"

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today issued the Consultation Paper on "Review of Voice Mail/Audiotex/Unified Messaging Services Licence".

2. TRAI received a reference from the Department of Telecommunications on 19th January 2016 for review of the terms and conditions for issue of fresh licences for Voice Mail/Audiotex/Unified Messaging Services (UMS) and for migration of existing licences.

3. DoT issued the guidelines for grant of Unified Licences for various services on 19th August 2013 whereas Voice Mail/Audiotex/Unified Messaging Services (UMS) licences continue to be issued as per the guidelines prior to issue of Unified Licence guidelines. Keeping in view the changes in technology and the resultant new user applications and service delivery scenarios, there is a need to review the technical specifications, financial terms and conditions, scope and guidelines for the services and the licence conditions.

4. Stakeholder consultation through this consultation paper seeks views of the stakeholders on many significant issues i.e. licensing framework for Voice Mail/Audiotex/UMS, technical specifications, financial terms & conditions including revenue share with the licensor, period of licence, and migration terms for existing licensees etc.

5. The Consultation Paper has been placed on TRAI's website. The Authority would take a decision on the subject matter after considering the views of the stakeholders. Written comments on the issues raised in the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by 11th July 2016 and counter-comments by 25th July 2016.

6. The comments and counter-comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form at pradvnsl@trai.gov.in with a copy to rksingh@trai.gov.in. Comments and counter comments will be posted on TRAI's website. For any clarification/information, Shri U. K. Srivastava, Pr. Advisor (NSL) may be contacted at Tel. No. +91-11- 23233291, Fax: +91-1123230056.

(Sudhir Gupta)
Secretary, TRAI